System and method of analyzing aircraft removal data for preventative maintenance

• US 7,359,777 B2
• Filed: 05/24/2005
• Issued: 04/15/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PT Diagnostics LLC (IPNav)
• Original Assignee: PT Holdings, LP
• Inventors: Livingston, Randell W. Jr., Betters, W. Bradley, Whetsell, Bob W.
• Primary Examiner(s): ARTHUR JEANGLAUDE, GERTRUDE
• Application Number:
  US11/136,072
• Publication Number:
  US 20060047378A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,057 Days
• Field of Search: 701/29, 701/30, 701/34, 701/35, 340/945, 340/963, 340/500, 340/438, 244/75.1, 434/29, 434/30
• US Class Current: 701/35
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 23/005 Flight directors indicating arrangements specially adapted for rotary gyroscopes G01C19/32
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/04 Forecasting or optimisation specially adapted for administrative or management purposes, e.g. linear programming or "cutting stock problem" market predictions or forecasting for commercial activities G06Q30/0202
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling

Abstract

A system includes a computer server for receiving an aircraft dataset; a database operably coupled to the computer server for storing the aircraft dataset into data fields; a web portal operably coupled to the computer server and the database for providing real-time access to consumers; and a maintenance analysis engine coupled to the computer server, the database, and the web portal to process the aircraft dataset into informational reports for an automatic delivery to the consumers, and optionally issuing a notification for retrieval thereof. The system employs a method of analyzing aircraft data for preventative maintenance, comprising: utilizing an aircraft dataset from at least one operational source; parsing the aircraft dataset into at least one data field; determining an acceptable range of values for the aircraft dataset within the at least one data field to define a threshold for the aircraft dataset; automatically activating a dynamic trigger to indicate a maintenance alert when the threshold is crossed; deriving a performance indication for the at least one operational source by determining one or more performance trends of the aircraft dataset; associating with the maintenance alert a notification having a status level indicative of a maintenance condition for the at least one operational source; combining the performance indication and the notification into an electronic report that forecasts need for preventative aircraft maintenance; and automatically delivering the electronic report to a predetermined location for retrieval by a consumer.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

assessing aircraft operating data generated during operation of an aircraft, wherein said assessing is performed with respect to manufacturer-specified aircraft operating specifications;

identifying a portion of said aircraft operating data corresponding to an aircraft system operating condition that deviates from at least one corresponding manufacturer-specified aircraft operating specification; and

determining at least one of a severity level of the aircraft system operating condition with respect to a plurality of possible aircraft system operating condition severity levels and an analytical characterization of the aircraft system operating condition.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein:

said determining the analytical characterization of the aircraft system operating condition includes determining a performance trend for the aircraft system operating condition; and

the performance trend provides indication of a potential need for implementing a corrective action to address the aircraft system operating condition.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

providing at least one of the performance trend and the aircraft system operating condition for enabling assessment of a potential need for implementing the corrective action to address the aircraft system operating condition, wherein said providing includes at least one of highlighting, displaying, outputting and reporting.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein determining the severity level of the aircraft system operating condition includes determining a color-coded indicator of the severity level of the aircraft system operating condition with respect to a degree of deviation from said at least one corresponding manufacturer-specified aircraft operating specification.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein determining the severity level of the aircraft system operating condition includes one of:

categorizing the aircraft system operating condition as having a first status level associated with a first color-coded indicator of the severity level of the aircraft system operating condition;

categorizing the aircraft system operating condition as having a second status level associated with a second color-coded indicator of the severity level of the aircraft system operating condition; and

categorizing the aircraft system operating condition as having a third status level associated with a third color-coded indicator of the severity level of the aircraft system operating condition.

6. An aircraft flight analysis and safety computer program, comprising

computer readable program instructions configured for performing the steps of:

assessing aircraft system operating conditions with respect to corresponding manufacturer-specified aircraft operating specifications;

determining a performance trend for an aircraft system operating condition that deviates from at least one corresponding manufacturer-specified aircraft operating specification, wherein the performance trend provides indication of a potential need for implementing a corrective action to address the aircraft system operating condition; and

providing at least one of the performance trend and the aircraft system operating condition for enabling assessment of the potential need for implementing the corrective action to address the aircraft system operating condition.

7. The aircraft flight analysis and safety computer program of claim 6 wherein said providing includes at least one of highlighting, displaying, outputting and reporting.

8. The aircraft flight analysis and safety computer program of claim 6, further comprising:

determining a severity level of the aircraft system operating condition with respect to a plurality of possible aircraft system operating condition severity levels, wherein determining the severity level of the aircraft system operating condition includes determining a color-coded indicator of the severity level of the aircraft system operating condition with respect to a degree of deviation from said at least one corresponding manufacturer-specified aircraft operating specification.

9. The aircraft flight analysis and safety computer program of claim 8 wherein determining the severity level of the aircraft system operating condition includes one of:

categorizing the aircraft system operating condition as having a first status level associated with a first color-coded indicator of the severity level of the aircraft system operating condition;

categorizing the aircraft system operating condition as having a second status level associated with a second color-coded indicator of the severity level of the aircraft system operating condition; and

categorizing the aircraft system operating condition as having a third status level associated with a third color-coded indicator of the severity level of the aircraft system operating condition.

10. An aircraft flight analysis and safety system, comprising:

at least one computer including memory; and

a computer program stored in said memory, wherein the computer program includes instructions readable by said at least one computer and wherein said instructions are configured for;

assessing aircraft system operating conditions with respect to corresponding manufacturer-specified aircraft operating specifications;

determining a performance trend for an aircraft system operating condition that deviates from at least one corresponding manufacturer-specified aircraft operating specification, wherein the performance trend provides indication of a potential need for implementing a corrective action to address the aircraft system operating condition; and

providing at least one of the performance trend and the aircraft system operating condition for enabling assessment of the potential need for implementing the corrective action, wherein said providing includes at least one of highlighting, displaying, outputting and reporting.

11. The aircraft flight analysis and safety system of claim 10 wherein:

instructions are configured for determining a severity level of the aircraft system operating condition with respect to a plurality of possible aircraft system operating condition severity levels; and

determining the severity level of the aircraft system operating condition includes determining a color-coded indicator of the severity level of the aircraft system operating condition with respect to a degree of deviation from said at least one corresponding manufacturer-specified aircraft operating specification.

12. A method, comprising:

retrieving aircraft operating data from an aircraft;

assessing said aircraft operating data with respect to manufacturer-specified aircraft operating specifications;

identifying a portion of said aircraft operating data corresponding to an aircraft system operating condition that deviates from at least one corresponding manufacturer-specified aircraft operating specification; and

determining at least one of a severity level of the aircraft system operating condition with respect to a plurality of possible aircraft system operating condition severity levels and an analytical characterization of the aircraft system operating condition.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein:

said determining the analytical characterization of the aircraft system operating condition includes determining a performance trend for the aircraft system operating condition; and

the performance trend provides indication of a potential need for implementing a corrective action on the aircraft system component to address the aircraft system operating condition.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

providing at least one of the performance trend and the aircraft system operating condition for enabling assessment of a potential need for implementing the corrective action to address the aircraft system operating condition, wherein said providing includes at least one of highlighting, displaying, outputting and reporting.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein determining the severity level of the aircraft system operating condition includes determining a color-coded indicator of the severity level of the aircraft system operating condition with respect to a degree of deviation from said at least one corresponding manufacturer-specified aircraft operating specification.

16. A system, comprising:

an aircraft including a flight data recording system;

at least one computer having memory and configured for being interfaced with the flight data recording system to enable aircraft operating data to be acquired from the flight data recording system; and

a computer program stored in said memory, wherein the computer program includes instructions readable by said at least one computer and wherein said instructions are configured for;

assessing aircraft system operating conditions with respect to corresponding manufacturer-specified aircraft operating specifications, wherein said aircraft system operating conditions relate to respective portions of said aircraft operating data;

determining a performance trend for an aircraft system operating condition that deviates from at least one corresponding manufacturer-specified aircraft operating specification, wherein the performance trend provides indication of a potential need for implementing a corrective action to address the aircraft system operating condition; and

providing at least one of the performance trend and the aircraft system operating condition for enabling assessment of the potential need for implementing the corrective action, wherein said providing includes at least one of highlighting, displaying, outputting and reporting.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein:

said instructions are configured for determining a severity level of the aircraft system operating condition with respect to a plurality of possible aircraft system operating condition severity levels; and

determining the severity level of the aircraft system operating condition includes determining a color-coded indicator of the severity level of the aircraft system operating condition with respect to a degree of deviation from said at least one corresponding manufacturer-specified aircraft operating specification.